THE THAMES. 59 



not be a dozen who merit the title of really skilful. The 

 Thames roach do not run so uniformly large as those of the 

 Colne, but they are more numerous. 



The London angler, when bank fishing, insists upon a 

 long rod, a few inches of line only above the float, and no 

 running tackle. When the fish are feeding timidly this ap- 

 paratus will have an advantage over the longer line, shorter 

 rod, and winch; but is it an advantage that compensates 

 for the arm-ache and constant unshipping of the joints that 

 are inseparable from the system? I opine not, and I have 

 seen first-rate roach anglers who would agree with me. 



Where the stream is swift, frequent ground baiting is an 

 absolute necessity, but under other conditions, balls walnut 

 instead of dumpling size should be used. Many a roach 

 angler ruins his chances by overdoing the ground bait. 

 Look after the material the professional fisherman prepares 

 for you, lest lumps of white bread be concealed in the bran. 

 Brandlings are a bad bait for roach ; large lobworms in the 

 winter often take the largest fish. The paternoster at such 

 times will answer for both perch and roach. Houseflies 

 sunk to midwater in hot weather are killing ; artificial flies, 

 small and finely tied, when the July sun declines will some- 

 times answer well, and when they do answer the sport may 

 be continuous. Roach, however, are very capricious with 

 the fly. The roach, when, say, a third of a pound in weight 

 and river fed, makes a good dish of fried meat, and at some 

 of the Thames angling inns the practised landlady can, 

 out of the humble fish which most cookery books simply 

 ignore, and to which others refer with disdain, perform a 

 culinary triumph, making the soft firm, and the insipid 

 passing sweet. 



